I fear Wenger will quit Arsenal to splash the cash at a rival club, says Gunners old boy Ljungberg

Former Arsenal star Freddie Ljungberg fears Arsene Wenger will quit if he is offered a bigger budget elsewhere.

Wenger has nurtured talent rather than spending big money - but the Gunners have not won a trophy since 2005 and are virtually out of the Barclays Premier League title race this season.

Ljungberg, who won the title twice under Wenger, told ESPN: "If he gets a great opportunity somewhere where they spend more money and win things, maybe that's a possibility. At the same time he likes to bring up new players and he has been at Arsenal a long time.

Worries: Arsene Wenger (right) may be tempted to a club willing to spend big

'I know he is a winner; he always wants to win - just as much as the players. He gets as angry as the players when we lose. When they are not winning, or they are fourth or fifth, I know he is not happy about not winning.'

Ljungberg, now at Major League Soccer side Seattle Sounders in America, feels money is an important factor in Arsenal's trophy drought.

The 31-year-old said: 'Maybe it's harder. If you look at the money they are spending, they are not spending as much as before.

'Maybe it puts more pressure on him; maybe he can't get exactly what he wants all the time; maybe he could a bit more in the past.'

Memories: Freddie Ljungberg

While the current team have had splits in the dressing room this season, Ljungberg has fond memories of the side he played in.

'They were the best years of my life - we were like a family,' he said. 'We had great players and a great team and won everything we could win.

'All the guys were great. It was like we had 11 captains on the pitch - everyone knew what they were supposed to do. We socialised off the pitch as well; for me, it was a great time.

'When he [Wenger] buys a player he looks at how they fit in the dressing room as well as how good they are. He doesn't want any problems, and that is important.

'In my opinion he is a great, great manager. Of course I'm upset at the moment that they are not doing that great, and it's a sad thing.

'For my career, he helped me so much. When I was young he showed me certain things that you learn when you are older in the game. For me, he is one of the best managers in the world.'